A golden ship cruised through the sky, heading toward the territory of the Diger Pirates. Aboard the ship, Antonio was routinely monitoring the movements of major pirates and members of the Pirate Guild.
Suddenly, the black iron Den Den Mushi cell phone on the table began to vibrate violently. Its expression twisted in panic, eyes wide with terror.
"Huh? What's got this little guy so scared?" Antonio leaned in curiously and activated the visual relay.
What appeared on the Den Den Mushi's screen made Antonio's eyes narrow—Rocks, the most fearsome overlord of the New World, was staring through the connection, and he was specifically asking for Brook.
Antonio didn't waste time. He rushed off to report to the captain.
"Rocks found out the Den Den Mushi secret? And he's asking for me?" Brook's expression turned grim.
So that monster wasn't just brawn—he had brains too.
If Rocks revealed the truth about the Den Den Mushi surveillance system, the Hell Pirates might lose their most powerful intelligence advantage. Worse, they'd risk offending every pirate in the guild—no pirate wanted to be tracked 24/7.
Could this be the first major crisis threatening the Pirate Guild?
Even so, Brook remained calm. Losing the network would slow their momentum, but it wouldn't stop them. Nothing could.
Brook followed Antonio into his personal communications chamber equipped with a Prism Gate, ready to see what this so-called strongest overlord wanted before the coming clash in Diger's territory.
But if Rocks was calling before the war... was it to spout nonsense?
Because the cell phone Den Den Mushi's connection was unstable, Brook didn't bother with formalities. He immediately dialed the secondary Den Den Mushi—the one gifted through the newspapers to establish a covert line.
"Perurururu~ Perurururu~"
On Rocks' end, the personal Den Den Mushi didn't react. Instead, the gifted one rang loudly. Despite the surprise, Rocks picked it up.
"Brook??"
"If I say no, what are you gonna do about it, Rocks?" Brook replied coldly. "Spit it out. I'm on my way to Diger's turf to fight you already."
From Antonio's relay, Brook could see Rocks' expression tighten. The monster's presence alone could suffocate the weak.
"So it is you, Brook," Rocks growled. "This Den Den Mushi's been silently observing for months. I didn't expect a Devil Fruit user on your crew could control them. No wonder you can pinpoint me at any time."
Confirmed suspicions only enraged him more.
Brook scoffed. "Save your breath. You called me to cry about surveillance? If I knew it was just whining, I'd have ignored you and let you stew in paranoia."
"You hid it well," Rocks admitted. "I hate your methods, but I respect your skill. I can't counter it—yet. So here's the deal: team up with me to kill Diger, and I'll give you all his territory. Or we split it. Just stay out of my way when I wipe out the rookie overlords, help me drive the Navy out of the New World, and assist in destroying one particular island. What do you say?"
Brook's brows rose.
He doesn't want Diger's land? What kind of trap is this?
Rocks was clearly laying a snare. Even he couldn't defend that many islands. If Brook accepted the territory, he wouldn't be able to hold it either. That would throw the New World into chaos—rookies and pirate crews would swarm like vultures.
And once Diger fell, only Brook would remain to challenge Rocks' dominance.
Even if Rocks couldn't defeat the Hell Pirates outright, he'd become the supreme overlord. The other conquerors, Brook included, needed at least a year or two to grow into their power.
As for the rookies? Without Advanced Conqueror's Haki, they'd never be more than cannon fodder. Most hadn't even mastered basic Armament Haki yet!
Rocks was betting everything on time—neutralizing the veterans and choking the rise of the next generation.
Brook was tempted. Taking Diger turf would rocket him into prominence. But like Rocks, he didn't have the manpower to protect it all.
Worse, the Hell Pirates' rapid expansion would trigger a territory gold rush. His newly built Pirate Guild might collapse under the pressure of internal strife.
Damn it. Rocks wasn't negotiating—he was setting him up.
By handing Brook the land, he could drag him into a mess and make the Pirate Guild a target, diverting attention from himself. It was a masterstroke of manipulation.
"You want to take down an island?" Brook responded flatly. "Why not invite Diger too? Let's all attack the Navy together first."
He needed Diger as a buffer. If Rocks turned on him, Brook would have no choice but to retreat and consolidate.
With Hiruba and the guild's intelligence network, a surprise attack was unlikely—but he couldn't risk losing too much too fast.
"Hmph. Diger's ambition is gone," Rocks sneered. "His grandchild will be born soon. He's ready to retire and train the next generation."
"In a year or two, he'll be finished anyway. So let's push him out now."
Then Rocks laid out his offer with cold confidence.
"If we truly ally, we divide the New World. I take 40% of the territories of the member nations—we'll give you 60%. That's the price for sparing Diger's turf for now."
Brook narrowed his eyes. Rocks was eager to stabilize his influence. He was done tolerating the wild cards like the rookie overlords and the Pirate Guild.
(Rookie overlords = supernovas)
If Brook joined him, they'd become the twin rulers of the seas—standing atop all others.
But in Rocks' heart, the Pirate Guild was nothing but a toy. In the face of greed, ideals crumbled.
-----------------------
It had to be said—Rocks' offer genuinely caught Brook's interest. Not only was Rocks extending a hand, but he even proposed helping Brook conquer territory. Of course, this wasn't out of kindness. Rocks was trying to deflect attention from himself and pull Brook into deeper waters.
Still, if Brook played it right, this deal could give him real territory. It all depended on just how big his appetite—and ambition—really was.
"Why should I trust you?" Brook asked coolly, after double-checking there were no recording devices nearby. The last thing he needed was Rocks pulling a sneaky move to sow discord between him and Diger.
"In the name of Rocks D. Xebec," Rocks replied, his voice solemn. "If you're still uneasy, set your own condition. Once our two crews form an alliance, I'll help you wipe out the Diger Pirates and hand over all their territory."
He continued, "For ten years, we won't interfere with each other's conquests. We'll fight the newcomers and rising pirates by our own hands. As for attacking the Mysterious Island and the New World Navy Branch—those operations will be led by me."
His eyes gleamed.
"When that time comes, you'll go all-out with me against the World Government, the Navy, and the Celestial Dragons. Once we've driven them out of the New World… we'll settle things. Ten years from now. Just the two of us. Winner takes all. The title of ruler of the New World."
Rocks leaned forward, a dangerous smirk on his face.
"Well? Do you dare to accept?"
To him, this was a masterstroke. He appeared to surrender personal interest, but once he'd stabilized his own position, he planned to establish an intelligence network, rebuild the Dark Newspaper, and dive headfirst into the underground economy. There was no way he'd let the Hell Pirates dominate the black market uncontested.
Besides, dragging the Hell Pirates along to attack the Valley of the Gods and the Naval Branch of the New World made everything safer—for him.
"Yohoho~ Rocks, that bait you tossed out… it's so juicy it makes my bones rattle!"
Brook chuckled, his eye flames flickering.
"Let's swear it, then. By our shared faith in Haki. You give me Diger's territory. We avoid war for ten years. I'll join your assault on the Navy and the Mysterious Island. After victory, I take 40% of the allied nations' land—you take 60%. Deal?"
As the saying went: a horse can't grow fat without grazing at night, and a man can't get rich without taking risks. Rocks had practically shoved the meat into Brook's mouth. If Brook backed down now, he'd look like a coward.
Weren't pirates born to stir chaos?
His four officers and elite cadres were itching for battle. This alliance was bound to unleash a storm of blood across the seas.
As for the Pirate Guild, Brook planned to reform it when the time was right—give the small fry a path to rise, without making them cannon fodder.
In the near future, the New World might be ruled by two overlords: the Hell Pirates and the Rocks Pirates. The class structure of the pirate world would solidify, and new crews would find it harder to break through. The Pirate Guild could be their only ladder.
Joining one of the two giants would no longer be the only option… but it would still be the safest.
"Hahahaha! I knew you'd bite, Brook! That's the ambition I respect!" Rocks roared with laughter. "The New World belongs to us now! The Navy's days here are numbered!"
With the deal sealed, Rocks could now focus on crushing unruly pirates and troublesome supernovas. Brook could harvest Devil Fruits from the fallen, and Rocks would do the same.
Their goals aligned—for now.
Rocks especially had his eyes on the Celestial Dragons holed up in God Valley. Rumors said they guarded a vault of rare Devil Fruits, and Rocks was determined to seize them all. That would be his trump card. Because truth be told… ten years from now, he wasn't confident he could beat the Hell Pirates in a direct clash.
"Yohoho~, then you go first," Brook said with a grin. "I'll support from the rear. No need to rush into infamy just yet. I'll play the gentleman pirate for now."
"Hahaha~ you sly devil," Rocks grinned. "No wonder you built up the Hell Pirates so fast!"
To Rocks, defeating Diger would elevate his fame to new heights. Even if he ruled the New World side-by-side with Brook, he would be the one remembered as the strongest.
That fame would attract cocky supernovas like moths to a flame. And from them, Rocks would recruit his next generation of monsters.
To formalize the deal, the two captains swore an oath by their belief in Conqueror's Haki. But they added a unique clause: a Life-and-Death Arena would be established on their border—open once a year. Anyone with a grudge could fight there.
An elegant way to prune internal conflict.
For lesser squabbles, money could smooth things over.
With the structure of their future carved in stone, the New World's fate began to shift.
---
Meanwhile… Madagascar Island.
Diger was restless.
Even though he had already called Brook for reinforcements, his instincts screamed that something was wrong. A looming storm he couldn't see yet.
His son's fiancée Amber—now seven months pregnant—deserved peace. But even that hope seemed distant. No quiet, no time for happiness.
Every member of the Diger Pirates had gathered, ready for war. They chose to face the Rocks Pirates outside the Ten Kings Islands, to avoid civilian casualties.
Diger dialed Brook's Den Den Mushi again, double-checking his location.
He also had eyes on Rocks' current position.
If he did the math, he'd need to stall Rocks for at least an hour before Brook arrived.
Damn it.
If that bastard Brook hadn't killed Xiao Feng, he could've delayed Rocks instead of Diger. Now, even if his forces fired everything they had, they wouldn't be able to stall Rocks for long.
If he allowed Rocks to set foot on one of the Ten Kings Islands and then fought, maybe Brook would arrive in time. But that would mean losing a key island—and Madagascar Island was dangerously close. Amber's safety would be in jeopardy.
After much thought, Diger chose to make his stand outside the Ten Kings territory.
He believed—he had to believe—that he could hold Rocks off for thirty to forty minutes.
They had lost Xiao Feng.
The Rocks Pirates had lost Salmon.
This chaotic battle could drag on for half a day… surely long enough for Brook's arrival.
That was the plan, at least.
But the dread wouldn't leave him. Could it be that Rocks had grown even stronger?
It couldn't be. Mastering Conqueror's Haki to a higher level wasn't something done overnight. Most top-level pirates had already maxed it out.
He told himself: "If I'm level 99, and Rocks is level 100… there's no way he's jumped to 101 so quickly."
If not for his age, he could've fought Rocks for ten days straight. Even now, a one-day clash wasn't out of the question.
So why the unease?
Was it instinct?
He even considered sending Amber off the island in secret… just in case.
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